Sharapova bristles through Mauresmo faces Davenport in semi

The decibel level went up a notch at Wimbledon yesterday as defending champion Maria Sharapova moved ominously into the semi-finals.

After four rounds of gentle sparring, the 18-year-old Russian was given a real battle early on by compatriot Nadia Petrova on Court One before emerging victorious 7-6 6-3.

"It was a tough match... it sends shivers down my body to be in the semi-finals again," she said, after securing a last four showdown with a revitalised Venus Williams who held off a Mary Pierce comeback to win 6-0 7-6.

While Sharapova's thunderbolts were accompanied by a cacophony of ear-splitting yelps, it was the low rumbling of world number one Lindsay Davenport's seismic forehand that echoed round Court One later.

The top seed carried on where she left off against Kim Clijsters in the fourth round to out-gun Russian fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 6-3.

Davenport, who won the first of her three grand slam titles at Wimbledon in 1999, will face Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo in the semi-finals after the third seed glided past battle-weary Anastasia Myskina 6-3 6-4.

Of the four Russians that reached the quarter-finals, only the Florida-groomed Sharapova is still in the hunt.

Sharapova has become a worldwide brand since her stunning triumph against Serena Williams in last year's final - she has just launched her own perfume and strides the grass in gold-encrusted tennis shoes.

When she walks out on court, however, the multi-million dollar smile is replaced by the scowl of a streetfighter.

"It's different this year because last year I wasn't expected to be in the semi-finals, this year I'm expecting myself to be in the second week."

Venus, relegated to 14th seed this year, looked like the player who won consecutive Wimbledon titles in 2000 and 2001 as she pulverised Pierce in the first set.

The 30-year-old Pierce came to her senses in the second set and even had five set points in a dramatic tiebreak before Venus edged it 12-10 on her second match point.

Davenport, 29, appeared on the verge of retiring this time last year when she lost in the last four to Sharapova. Fit, lean and mean, she now looks the biggest threat to the Russian.

Kuznetsova, who beat Davenport in the semi-finals of the US Open last year, has the game to write her name on the Wimbledon roll of honour, but never really threatened after losing the first set tiebreak.

Davenport holds an 8-3 career lead over Mauresmo, although the Frenchwoman's form is raising a few eyebrows at Wimbledon.

Playing today (men's QFs):

Hewitt vs Lopez; Grosjean vs Roddick; Federer vs Gonzalez; Johansson vs Nalbandian.